System for Fixing Panels, Slabs, Glass Walls, etc. to Supporting Surfaces in the Building Field and/or in the Furniture Field

ABSTRACT

A fixing system including at least one upright, preferably in extruded aluminum, with special orientable brackets suitable for being restrained to the same upright, particularly suitable for the construction of structural facades of the hanging type, whether these provides rotule supports for the holding of perforated slabs or panes of glass or whether they have point-type supports with a ball joint for the holding of non-perforated slabs or panels of glass.

The present invention relates to a system for the fixing of panels, slabs, glass walls, etc. to supporting surfaces in the building and/or furniture fields.

According to new architectural trends, the need is greatly felt in building field for the construction of structural façades, roofs and tunnels with surfaces in glass, marble, panels, etc., with both a flat and spatial development.

The current building systems to construct these façades are based on the use of brackets in stainless steel or aluminium (commonly known as spiders) on which the supports for holding the glass are fixed (known as rotules).

These brackets are then fixed, with various systems, to support profiles that are normally in steel or aluminium.

Obviously the glazed façades can be flat or form variable angles.

In the case of façades with panes of glass forming a variable angle, both closed and open, brackets (known as spiders) of different shapes are used.

Moreover these brackets are fixed onto the support profiles with standard systems: bolts, plates, etc. that are often difficult to apply and/or use.

Normally the manufacturers producing and supplying the brackets (spiders) do not produce and supply the support profiles.

The brackets available on the market, for forming variable angles between the glass panes, are limited to a few combinations, such as the closed angle at 90° and open angle at 90°, which represent extreme solutions with intermediate variations of 30°.

Obviously, in real situations, the angular variations for joining the glass panes are endless and the currently known systems do not meet this need, unless accessories, customised for every situation, are made.

The need is also evident, for manufacturers, to keep in stock a high number of different brackets to meet a certain number of installation needs, which, in any case, is limited.

The main object of the present invention is that of providing an integrated system comprising at least one profile or upright for support with at least one bracket associated therewith, which enables to avoid the technical and economic problems of the current systems.

This has been obtained, according to the invention, by providing a fixing system comprising at least one upright, preferably in extruded aluminium, provided with appropriate brackets that can be oriented and are suitable for being restrained on the same upright, particularly suitable for the construction of structural façades of the hanging type, whether these provide for rotule supports for holding perforated slabs or panes of glass, or whether they provide for point-type supports with a ball joint for the support of non-perforated slabs or panes of glass.

One of the advantages of the fixing system according to the present invention is the possibility of constructing, with a single profile and a single type of orientable and reversible bracket, installations with any type of angle from +90° to −90° and over, via all the intermediates, preferably with an angle step of 15°.

If then the radially projecting protuberances are removed, which are present externally on the open annular end of the bracket, which is suitable for being inserted in a special longitudinal slot of the upright, the angular regulation is continuous, allowing attachments to be constructed with any angle.

The upright is preferably made with a section bar provided with appropriately shaped internal chambers to allow the fixing of screws of the type known as “Halfen”; this allows easy anchorage to the structures of the buildings and the positioning of possible stiffeners of the same upright.

The invention will be better understood by the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of a non-limiting examples only, some preferred embodiments.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view from above of an application of the fixing system, object of the invention, to a flat vertical wall;

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the section bar forming the upright provided with slots for the support of the orientable brackets;

FIG. 3 is a section view of a closure cover or member for the free parts of the slots of the upright;

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the upright, as in FIG. 2, with the slots closed by the covers of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view from above of a first embodiment of an orientable bracket;

FIG. 6 is a section view of the bracket of FIG. 5 along the line A-A;

FIG. 7 shows the bracket of FIG. 6 provided with means for its locking in the slot of the upright;

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9 show in particular the locking means of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a partially section view of a second embodiment of an orientable bracket;

FIGS. 11A, 11B show in a partial section a third embodiment of an orientable bracket in two working positions;

FIGS. 12 to 18 each show a possible position that the bracket can adopt in relation to the upright;

FIG. 19 shows some possible positions that two brackets can adopt in relation to the upright;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a portion of the upright where a plurality of brackets, different one from the other, are attached, by way of an example.

Referring to FIGS. 1-9 and 12-16, which show the components and various applications of a first embodiment of the invention, the section bar or upright 1 for supporting the orientable brackets 2 has, on the side turned towards the panes of glass or panels 13, two open and specular longitudinal slots, having a circular section with triangular longitudinal grooves arranged radially, for example with a step of 15°.

This profile also has other shaped slots or cavities 7 and 8, suitable for the insertion of Halfen-type bolts, for the anchorage of these uprights to the support structures of buildings, after longitudinal slotting of the same uprights.

Inside the two longitudinal slots C with an open circular section of the upright 1, the orientable brackets 2 are inserted in a flag configuration.

Each bracket 2 has a special tubular end D having a shape complementary to the aforesaid slots C: in the example described, said end D of the orientable bracket 2 is substantially formed by a tubular member having an open circular crown section, preferably provided with two triangular appendix E arranged radially, suitable for being inserted in corresponding longitudinal grooves provided inside the slots C of the upright 1.

The remaining part of the body of the bracket 2 is formed by a short section that radially projects from the tubular end D of the bracket 2 and continues, deviating laterally tilted through 45°.

This latter part of the bracket 2 has at least one hole for the attachment of the supports for holding panes of glass or panels or slabs 13.

The brackets 2 can also have slots (of any shape) with an aesthetic and/or lightening function.

Moreover the orientable bracket 2 can have different shapes, suitable for holding one or two supports for the slabs or panels or panes of glass.

The circular crown D of the brackets 2, in the internal part, has truncated cone surfaces suitable for housing two truncated cone wedges in steel or aluminium or other metals of which the first 3 has a through hole and the second 4 has a threaded hole (FIGS. 8A-8B). The insertion of a screw 5 for connecting said wedges 3 and 4 and tightening it to bring them close together causes widening of the open circular crown D of the bracket 2 which, being inserted in the longitudinal groove C of the upright 1, is blocked integrally with the same.

The two triangular appendix projecting radially outside of the end crown C of the brackets 2 serve to facilitate the positioning of the same, to form predefined angles in the position of the glazed surfaces.

During assembly on site, once the brackets 2 have been positioned, the free parts of the slots C of the upright 1 are closed with a special cover or member 6 for snap closure, preferably in the same material as the upright.

The upright 1 is designed to be anchored to the support structure of the building by metal brackets 10 of the known type that are restrained to the same upright by Halfen bolts 9 arranged crosswise.

The bracket 2 can adopt, in relation to the upright 1, a plurality of different positions, passing from the +90° configuration of FIG. 12 to that of −90° of FIG. 13, through predefined and limited positions, variable by 15°, as shown in FIGS. 14-16 and 17.

Moreover, if the bracket 2 is overturned, it is possible to change from the +90° position to the diametrically opposed one, as shown in FIG. 18.

By removing the two triangular appendix which project radially outside of the circular end D of the bracket 2, it can adopt any position included in the aforementioned intervals.

According to a special feature of the invention, the bracket 2 is reversible, i.e. it can be mounted in an overturned and reversed position inside the slot C, increasing the possibility of creating façades with a variable angle.

Through at least one hole formed in the body of each bracket 2, the support 12 for holding the panes of glass or panels 13 is restrained thereto. In this way the panels or panes of glass 13 of the façades are fixed to the uprights 1 by means of the brackets 2 described hitherto.

The panels 13 are fixed to the body of the brackets 2 by means of one or more supports 12 of a known type, both for perforated and non-perforated panes of glass.

The validity of the present invention is clear, both at a technical and economic level, in that with one single profile and one single type of bracket all the angular combinations can be produced, to meet any architectural need.

In this way it is advantageously possible to restrain to the support structures panels or panes of glass or continuous slabs with all types of commercial supports with a point-type rest and ball joint, or with commercial supports of any shape and size, for the creation of glazed façades, roofs or tunnels, in the building field or also for constructing continuous surfaces in interior design. 

1. System of attachment for the fixing of supports of panels, glass walls and slabs, etc. to supporting structures, characterised in that it comprises, in combination: at least one profile or upright with at least one open longitudinal slot, suitable for being restrained in a known manner to a supporting surface; at least one orientable bracket having an end suitable for being inserted in said slot and suitable for holding said panels, glass walls, slabs, etc. by means of supports of the known type; said means of fixing of said end of the bracket in said slot of the upright; said end of the orientable bracket being of a complementary shape to the internal surface of the slot.
 2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that said end has an open cross section suitable for widening under the action of known means, blocking inside the slot in which it is inserted.
 3. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the section bar or upright for support of the orientable brackets has, on the side turned towards the panes of glass or panels, two open and specular longitudinal slots, with a circular section.
 4. System according to claim 1, characterised in that inside the two longitudinal slots with open circular section of each of the uprights, the orientable brackets are inserted in a flag configuration.
 5. System according to claim 1, characterised in that each bracket is provided with a special end which is substantially formed by a tubular member having an open circular crown section.
 6. System according to claim 1, characterised in that said longitudinal slots are provided internally with longitudinal grooves arranged radially and spaced with a predefined step, and said end of the bracket has two appendix arranged radially, placed in such a way as to be inserted in said longitudinal grooves provided inside the slots of the upright, said grooves and said appendix being shaped so as to be joined one to the other.
 7. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the remaining part of the body of the bracket is formed by a short section that projects radially from the end of the bracket and continues, deviating laterally tilted preferably through 45°, this latter part of the bracket being provided with at least one hole for fixing supports of the known type for supporting glass panes or panels or slabs.
 8. System according to claim 5, characterised in that the end circular crown of each bracket has, in the internal part, truncated cone surfaces suitable for housing two truncated cone wedges in steel, of which the first wedge has a through hole and the second wedge has a threaded hole; said wedges being suitable for being connected with a screw in such a way that, by screwing it to move them close one to the other, it causes widening of the open circular crown of the bracket which, being inserted in the longitudinal slot of the upright, is suitable for blocking integrally with the same.
 9. System according to claim 1, characterised in that it additionally comprises a suitable member or cover for snap closure, preferably in the same material as the upright, which is suitable for being snap-positioned in the parts of the slots of the upright, which are free after positioning of the brackets, in order to close them, creating continuity of the external surface of the same upright.
 10. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the upright 1 is suitable for being anchored to the support structure of the building by means of metal brackets of the known type that are restrained to the same upright by means of Halfen bolts arranged transversally.
 11. System according to claim 1, characterised in that each bracket can adopt, in relation to the upright, a plurality of positions or different flag-type orientations and can be fixed in this position to support the slab or panel or glass wall restrained thereto.
 12. System according to claim 1, characterised in that each bracket is reversible, i.e. it is suitable for being mounted in an overturned and reversed position inside the slot, increasing the possibility of constructing façades with a variable angle.
 13. System according to claim 7, characterised in that in the body of each bracket at least one attachment hole is provided for at least one known support for holding the panes of glass or panels or slabs; in this way achieving fixing of said panels or panes of glass to the uprights by means of said orientable brackets.
 14. System according to claim 6, characterised in that the two triangular appendix radially projecting outside of the end crown of the brackets are suitable for facilitating positioning of the same in relation to the upright so as to form predefined angles in the position of the glazed surfaces.
 15. System according to claim 1, characterised in that said longitudinal slots are open for an angle of at least 90°.
 16. System according to claim 6, characterised in that said longitudinal radial grooves inside the slots are spaced with a step of 15°.
 17. System according to claim 1, characterised in that said upright has other additional longitudinal and appropriately shaped slots or cavities, suitable for the insertion of Halfen-type bolts, for the anchorage of these uprights to the support structures of buildings, after longitudinal slotting of the same uprights.
 18. System according to claim 7, characterised in that the body of the brackets has slots or holes with an aesthetic and/or lightening function.
 19. System of attachment for the fixing of supports for panels, glass walls, slabs, etc. to supporting structures, as substantially described and illustrated in the present description and in the accompanying drawings.
 20. System according to claim 6, characterised in that the end circular crown of each bracket has, in the internal part, truncated cone surfaces suitable for housing two truncated cone wedges in steel, of which the first wedge has a through hole and the second wedge has a threaded hole; said wedges being suitable for being connected with a screw in such a way that, by screwing it to move them close one to the other, it causes widening of the open circular crown of the bracket which, being inserted in the longitudinal slot of the upright, is suitable for blocking integrally with the same. 